The Decline of the American City

Detroit has always fascinated me, although, with the exception of that ginormous airport, I've never visited the city. Growing up, I learned the words to "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" as "root, root, root for the Tigers," the Detroit baseball team, because they were my dad's favorite team. Based on movies like 8 Mile and Four Brothers, and the book Middlesex, Detroit culture intrigued me. 
Why does Detroit interest me so much? I guess it's because I want to know what makes it so legendarily bad. I wanted to know what caused the riots, the white flight, the economic downturn. I wanted to know why no one wanted to live in Detroit, and why the people that did still did.  I've scoured Google Earth for images of Detroit, looking for evidence of the scary and horrific. I want the destruction, the murder, the violence to be obvious. What has happened to this city? Alas, none of those things are necessarily obvious from web images.
I had the same urges when moving to Washington, DC. I had never heard about the Anacostia River or known anything about the neighborhoods outside of the Northwest quadrant before moving to the city, particularly, the neighborhoods east of the river . Once I learned more about the East of the River community and the socioeconomic situation, I wanted to see it. I wanted to know what makes Anacostia so notably terrible. Since living here awhile, I've been there a few times now. I'm not sure what I expected to find there, but it's not...what I expected. Just travelling by bus or car or waiting on the metro, it isn't all together obvious that this is a dangerous place. I haven't been witness to any shoot-outs or drug deals, nor are there any more or less destructed, ugly buildings on this side of town then on mine. It is more an eerily quiet feeling, the vast expanses of land, that make this place seem defeated or sad, but not terrifying.It seems, it's less about what  places like Anacostia or Detroit have, and more to do with what they don't. This section of Washington, DC, the symbolically-left-off-the-maps part, is lacking resources. There are no grocery stores, no bars, no restaurants, no gyms, no movie theaters, and no retail shops. Everything that is there has been developed and maintained by the government. Namely, public schools and public parks. Residential buildings. Where are these people expected to work? Where are they supposed to buy food? Why would anyone that wanted to live a typical city-dwelling life choose Anacostia to live?
What these places have in common, and what I think then must contribute to their decline, is that they have been left. Everyone that can leave, has left, and those that can't are left to fend for themselves. They have become dysfunctional places in this idleness, in the flight of the people.
I recently came across a book called Made in Detroit at the library. It was a fascinating narrative of a white man coming to terms with growing up in Detroit. His birth comes the same year that Coleman Young (the first black mayor of Detroit, who served 5 terms) is elected mayor.
The narrative was an excellent visual of blue collar Detroit and the challenges the author, Paul Clemens, a white man in a predominately black city, faced. The book deals first hand with white flight and race relations at this time, and the challenges of being working-class. What I found interesting is how similar this reverse discrimination is. The predominant racial group in Detroit held all government positions and the power of the city, and, as a result, misused their authority at times. As Clemens grew up in Detroit, his commentary was interesting--in fact, many reviewers defined his attitudes as "racist." What I really think these reviewers are upset about, and Clemens addresses this in the book, is the lack of "white guilt" he feels. He's not racist; however, he has no reason to feel white guilt. What did he grow up with in Detroit that minority (majority in Detroit) groups could not also partake in? Living in this city, Clemens played sports, went to school and church, and later worked with African Americans. In this unique situation, there was no opportunity for him to feel any white guilt--on the contrary, he often felt on the losing side of race relations in this city. His narrative isn't racist--it's honest. He struggled with race relations because they are ugly and were in his face. He struggled with them because Detroit was rioting and his beloved city was falling apart. His family did not partake in the white flight, and got left behind to suffer the consequences of the mass population loss.
The factors that play into a city's decline are many. I have always focused before on the why, as a sociology major, I often read about decline and studied the social implications of this. Instead of What happened? and Why?, it's time to take a look at what we can do about it. The function of a city or community is to provide and support the individuals that are apart of it. When the community is no longer self-sustaining, problems occur. In terms of community organizing, it's interesting to think about meeting the community where it currently is, not expecting it to catch-up or follow along with current trends or interests. I wonder, are places like Anacostia and Detroit beyond repair? What would spur development and revitalize these communities? How could you attract people to move here? And is that something these communities even want or that developers are interested in doing?

--Megan

Cultural and Community Center, Eastern Market

Constructed in 1873, Eastern Market has been a landmark for tourists and locals alike. It is a community gathering space and a piece of DC history.

You will find handmade arts and crafts, antiques, clothing, and other goods on the weekends, when the market is in full swing (get there early on Saturday for a stack of blueberry buckwheat pancakes!). It's a great way to support local artists and small businesses. You will also find local, fresh produce from nearby farms as well as fresh cut flowers, baked goods, and artisan foods. Everyday of the week (with the exception of Monday), Eastern Market offers bakery, deli, and produce items inside the hall. 

This building has been serving the community uninterrupted since 1873, despite a fire in 2007 that devastated the building. The community reaction to this tragedy was one of urgency: the building must be restored! A temporary hall was put in place so that the market could continue while work was done on the main building. 

I love perusing Eastern Market on weekends. You'll often find performers playing music and artists painting as you wonder through the tents and tables. There are fresh peach and berry samples laid out on platters as you walk through. Friends meet up over coffee or crepes (to avoid the line, get there by 9am!), or my favorite, fresh squeezed lemonade, limeade, or orangeade. People are able to interact with others from their community and support their missions. People walk dogs, people ride bikes, and people brunch. There is also a fantastic used bookstore right across the street from the main building, which I highly recommend. 

Truly the best thing about Eastern Market is the atmosphere and sense of community it embodies. It is a gathering place--a meeting place, for old friends and new. Check it out next time you're in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. It's a great way to experience DC's history and get connected to the community.

--Megan

A taste of American Art

Nam June Paik's "Electronic Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii"


 It seems that many people living in DC or in the surrounding areas are unaware of some of the American History, character,  and culture DC has to offer. Last Saturday I spent the day enjoying some of DC's tourist attractions. On my journey I stopped by the Smithsonian American Art Museum for the first time.  Located on 8th and F streets, NW close to the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro the Smithsonian American Art Museum is open free to the public from 11:30a-7:00p.



The nation's first collection of American art is exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The collections and galleries on display truly capture and express American traditions, dreams, and culture. Some of the largest and most inclusive American artworks can be viewed at the museum.

 



This lady looked so real that we spent
30 minutes waiting for her to move.

My favorite exhibits of the museum are currently located on the third floor of the building; Art Since 1945, Media Art, and the Special Exhibition Gallery. These three areas are quite a sight to be seen. The multimedia art will grab your attention and leave you wanting more with the heautiful illustration of the United States in media, where each state is represented by their own media culture (check out the picture at the top of this post). Many of the pieces in these galleries truly come to life and visitors have the wonderful opportunity to take pictures and freely roam throughout the museum.

Some people don't enjoy viewing art galleries, but the American Art Museum appeals to individuals of all ages and interests with its wide variety of exhibits and works of art. So check it out and let us know what you think. If you have already been how did you enjoy your visit? What was your favorite floor and/or exhibit?

--Krystal

Revitalization or Elimination

When researching the definition of gentrification I found that it refers to the changes that result when wealthier people "the gentry" acquire property in low income and working class communities. This movement results in poorer native residents of a neighborhood, being unable to pay increased rents, housing prices, and property taxes. Once these individuals are unable to keep up with increasing costs they end up being displaced while others who can afford the cost take their place, creating a new look to the community. Although this type of displacement and disparity can be created in some situations, sometime's additional assistance and attention from the city can bring new opportunities and a new enriching life to a neighborhood.

Urban gentrification occurs throughout the world and we see many examples here in the Nation's Capital. I work in Northeast across from the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood Metro Station and if anyone has traveled past this metro in the past year you have noticed the dramatic changes that have occurred in less than a year. I started working in Northeast in late August and at that time there were no condominiums, no parking garage, no apartments, no TJ Maxx and no TD Bank. Traffic is even more congested as you make your way to Home Depot, Giant or the metro. With these new commodities and housing opportunities means a new look for the Brentwood community.

The plans for this project are extensive with $7 million in city funds, the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood station will now include 274 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail over the once underused parking lot. I have complained before about the lack of retail and services in close proximity to the Brentwood neighborhood, but this project will bring the much needed retail to the area. While reading up on the community and this new mixed-use project I learned that the Brentwood area is the closest neighborhood to downtown DC with such underutilized land and little to none street level activity.

It seems to me that the city is attempting to bring some of the neighborhoods of DC to the same activity level as and look of the more affluent DC neighbohoods. With this large project there are some logistics that the city has overlooked like the fact that they are building on the steep hill next to the street, but have no plans to widen the sidewalk. Now I agree that building additional retail in a neighborhood does help to revitalize the community in an effective way, but as more change occurs how does this affect those that are unable to keep up with rising costs and are left behind. And as said, Brentwood is not the only neighborhood with lots of construction in the works; check out the Shaw neighborhood and our neighbors across the river in Anacostia.

What are your views on gentrification? Is this revitalizing the community or suppressing and eliminating the community?

--Krystal

Middle Class Life on a Lower-Class Paycheck

As a recent college graduate (Can I still say that?), I’ve never really made much money.  I’ve had part-time jobs, summer jobs, loan money, gift money, but nothing really substantial. Money was never a problem for me, however, because in college, all my friends were in about the same situation. We had a little spending money—nothing crazy, but I never had to worry about rent and I still had a little to go out for drinks, snacks between classes, or shopping. I even had money for things like spring break trips or concert tickets.

This past year, I’ve been living on an Americorp stipend. If you know much about Americorp, you know that’s not a lot of money.  To make matters worse, I live and work in DC—it’s an expensive town!

Needless to say, my lifestyle had to change.  The hard part is, many of my friends don’t really understand just how strict my budget is. There is a huge salary discrepancy between my Americorp stipend  and some of the jobs’ of my friends, colleagues , and acquaintances here in DC.  I found myself calculating and often feeling guilty after 1 drink at 1 happy hour, or bemoaning the price of the cable when it unexpectedly went up. A friend’s birthday came around, and everyone thought it would be a nice idea to split the birthday girl’s tab. One time, my bicycle tire (the bicycle is my main transportation) went flat. These little one-time events or situations, were quite devastating to my meticulously kept,  and teeny-tiny, budget. 

In Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich  steps into the lower class and discovers that she still is not really lower class compared to many of her colleagues—just based on the fact that she had start up funds that many don’t have and the advantages that come with growing up middle class—education, health care, etc.  In this book, she surrounded herself by people living in poverty and trying to make ends meet making minimum wage in very disrespected jobs.  What she encountered were people who weren’t resting when they were sick or injured, people who weren’t eating to save money, and people who's health was in jeapordy because of the work they did.

In my own delve into poverty this year, I have still been trying to live a middle-class lifestyle. My rent, though cheap by DC standards, is well beyond what would be considered sustainable for a person of my economic disadvantage. I still take myself out shopping once in a while, I still take myself out to eat once in awhile, I still took a vacation (or two), and I still hang out with my middle-class friends, who love spending frivolous amounts of money on drinks, restaurants, leisure, and travel. Despite my income putting me squarely below the poverty line, I have been able to fake being a typical, middle-class 20-something.

How is this possible? I suppose it is because of the way I started out. Because my self-induced poverty came through Americorp, it came with advantages. Namely, they stopped my school loans for the year. They provided me health insurance. 

Coming from the middle-class helped, too. Before moving to DC, I sold my car. I had parents whom I had lived with through any transition between leases. I had been able to aquire a credit card at an early age.  Because of these factors, I came to DC with a bit of start up money and a little cushion. I also came educated enough to be able to apply for Americorp (many Americorp programs require a Bachelor’s Degree, all require high school diploma or GED)—and that’s thanks to my middle class background, where it was expected that I go and complete a 4-year degree.

But like I said, all this faking being middle class hurt. I was conscious of every dollar I spent, every time I went out, every time I went to Target for a new bottle of shampoo. My rent was eating up near all of my paycheck each month.  The people around me knew about the program and knew about the small paycheck it provided. I knew , too, going in. What I don’t think any of us born-n-raised middle-class folk knew, however, is what a huge discrepancy there is between middle class and lower. I could (and can) no longer really hang with the middle-class crowd, but what would I have in common with low-wage workers (other than our menial paychecks?) ? And where would I find them?

I read an article once about a  man living in Manhattan in his early 30’s. He had a good job at some corporation, lived in an expensive apartment in Manhattan, and smoozed with clients and business associates at New York’s poshest bars and golf courses. He still received money from his parents, who together, made less money than he did, and lived in small-town Pennsylvania. He asked money from his parents to make ends meet.   

I wanted to mention this , because I wanted to demonstrate how important status is to us. Yes, New York is expensive. This young man’s lifestyle was expensive, but he wanted to keep up with the people he was surrounded with—and this meant living in the “right” neighborhood and going out on the town—things he couldn’t do by his means alone. His parents, on the other hand, who made less money than him, were able to afford to dish out a little extra, again, because of lifestyle choices.

I have a low-income job as far as money goes, but not as far as status goes. The people I work with are not all Americorp members, and many get quite substantial paychecks. My job, though minimally-paid, does not have the same associations, and therefore I did not have the same experiences as someone working a typical low-wage job (for example, I was always treated with respect and even regarded highly on the job).  My experiences were different than Ehrenreich's in this way, as I discovered what it was like to live middle-class with a low-class paycheck. On the flip side, Ehrenreich learned not only how to live on a low income, she learned what associations are made with these jobs and what sort of treatment maids, Walmart workers, and restaurant servers get. 

It’s interesting to think about the way our economic status impacts the way we are treated and the people we associate with.  Barbara Ehrenreich learned, first hand, how the working-class poor lived and took note of their working conditions, attitudes, and struggles. My own experiences have been with living middle-class on a low-income salary; our experiences are altogether quite different, and one might see by comparing the two that lower-class status has a lot to do with where you come from  and what type of work it is, more so than the number on the paycheck.

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--Megan

On Being a Wage Slave

"Most civilized nations compensate for the inadequacy of wages by providing relatively generous public services such as health insurance, free or subsidized child care, subsidized housing, and effective public transportation. But the United States, for all its wealth, leaves its citizens to fend for themselves." --Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed 


Being a low-wage hourly worker has become, effectively, a prison--no way out, no way up. It's a self-perpetuating caste system. 
Imagine working a minimum wage job, trying to make ends meet. What would you do to save money and cut costs? 
Most people who are living in poverty are lacking the resources to actually pull themselves up out of this situation and save money. How does one put down a security deposit and first months rent on an apartment? Often, they are not, leading to people living in hotel rooms--and then not being able to save enough money to ever put down a deposit. That, or they are living in their cars or with relatives in cramped quarters, drifting from place to place or feeling burdensome. And how do you eat if you live in a car or hotel? Why, you eat out, which of course costs a lot more money than buying foods at the grocery and preparing them yourself. And how do you get to work? Often several people are sharing one car, and a car pool system must be worked out. Or perhaps you live close enough to walk to work, which is why you are unable to go and apply for the better paying jobs across town, or even, for that matter, apply for many jobs in the first place. 


These factors are all suppressing the working-class poor. People in these hourly jobs work long, tiring hours, often on their feet. 
The most unsettling, people are being treated with distrust from the beginning. Drug tests, personality  tests, and high turnover rates are all facts of working a low-wage job. People are not seen as people, but as merely bodies to do a job. They are not expected to think for themselves, are not given basic rights to privacy, are not expected or allowed to make and voice opinions, or given adequate rest. This automatic distrust is sending a message to the working class population about what others think of them. This is, again, forcing people into and keeping people in poverty. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. What sort of dignity and self-respect does a grown adult have when they must ask to use the bathroom or take a phone call? How do people respond when their purses and bags are checked when they leave work?  These kinds of rules and regulations are preventing people to think for themselves and to feel good about themselves. 
How are people expected to raise families on a measly $7-8 per hour? Why aren't employees being valued? 
Many companies do not allow workers to work full-time, so that they are not receiving benefits or overtime. Workers are seen as a mass, one is disposable, and easily replaced by another. 


For a good look at this all encompassing caste system, check out Nickel and Dimed. Ehrenreich goes undercover in three cities in various low wage jobs. She compares herself to the others working in these positions, noting that, despite getting paid the same, and  being treated the same, she is still miles ahead of her colleagues, in the fact that in each place she has allowed herself some start-up money, a car, and has had excellent healthcare her entire life. 
The discrepancies between the perception of low-wage workers and their actuality is disturbing. So many feel that low-wage workers are lazy, incompetent, or stupid. Ehrenreich points out that none of the low-wage work she did was easy. No one is really getting by on the small sums of money they are making. Despite rent and food prices going through the roof, the minimum wage or really many of the median hourly wages, are not matching up. 




Can corporations and businesses afford to pay people more? what's the problem at heart here? Thoughts?


--Megan

Tibetan Arts & Crafts meet the DC Soul

Today around lunchtime I was headed to Chinatown and stumbled upon the Kalachakra Marketplace. Kalachakra Marketplace is an outdoor cultural event to The 2011 Kalachakra for World Peace Ceremony. For 12 days the DC community has the exciting opportunity to explore and learn Tibetan heritage and tradition. This event is a great opportunity for the marketplace to promote and showcase their art and history while uniting traditions of the past with those of the present.

I enjoy learning about different cultures around the world and at this marketplace you get to experience authentic Tibetan art work, crafts, clothing and taste some of their delicious cuisine. You can explore and purchase items from the marketplace until July 16th. The lines at some for some of the vendors may be long, but it is well worth the wait.

July 9th, 2011 will be a historic event in DC when His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet comes to the District for the first time. As one of the world's most revered spiritual leaders of all time it is an honor to have him visit the nation's capital for World Peace. The free public event will be held at the U.S. Capitol West Lawn at 9:30am.

With His Holiness the Dalai Lama coming into town and the Kalachakra marketplace open, this really inspires individuals to express themselves and stand up for what they believe in. I am a huge proponent of expressing yourself in creative ways and this marketplace does an excellent job illustrating Tibetan culture and traditions. Look at some of the pictures I took today, but be sure to check it out for yourself and check out "A Talk for World Peace" by His Holiness.

--Krystal

Freedomfest on the Riverfront

Independence Day is a joyous occasion to celebrate with friends, family, and fellow patriots. It isn't just the history of this day that makes celebrating so much fun, but it is the warm summer weather, fireworks, cookouts, outdoor concerts and other various public events that make this day so special. National Freedomfest is a great way to celebrate America's Independence, commune with others have a great time, enjoy amazing weather and a view overlooking the Anacostia River. National Freedomfest is two days of DC's most popular National, Regional, and Local bands and DJ's. With over 40 bands and DJ's in concert on five stages, eclectic food vendors and one of a kind craft vendors there is something  for everyone to enjoy. Most of bands even edited their music to make more appropriate for the younger guests.

People from all over the DMV and beyond came to the Yards Park in Southeast on Sunday and Monday for the festival. It was really great to see so many individuals gathering together in an area of DC that most of them have never visited before. An event like this is really good for the community. By bringing people from different backgrounds together and celebrating the birth of a nation, individuals are uniting with those whom on any other day may not share any common interests.

 I had the opportunity to attend Freedomfest for the first time this year and was very pleased with the event and especially its location. I was able to meet some of the local bands and visit some of the cool local vendors on site. I definite plan on attending again next year and encourage more people to do the same. Spend your holiday with family, friends and Freedomfest.

*Check out our youtube page for a short Ryan Cabrera performance video. For a complete listing of the local bands and DJ's of Freedomfest click the link


--Krystal

Jazz in the Garden

It's a DC summer must. Think about it: it's free, live music, outdoors, with sangria to purchase and a picnic you've brought. Couples dance, people play cards, but mostly, people just stretch out across blankets, eat cheese and bread and/or hummus and pita and chat while the band plays. This event takes place every Friday night during the summer at the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden, and it is definitely the place to see and be seen.

You've got to get there early if you want a spot. I've been several times before and always arrived after 5. This makes it hard to squeeze into anything. The lawn is covered, as is the fountain and the benches surrounding. Yesterday, having the day off work, I was fortunate enough to arrive at 4:30. There was a space to park my bike, and I even had my pick of places to spread out the blanket. Upon arrival, they are checking bags for alcohol, a new policy this year. Beer, wine, and sangria are all served inside the sculpture garden, but they do not allow outside alcohol brought in, so pack your bags carefully...


After several pitchers of sangria or contraband bottles of wine, many parties start to get a little sloppy. Last night there was dancing in the fountain and people napping in the grass.  And girls in the boys bathroom, because the girls' line is always too long (my friend waited for 30 minutes! Go before you leave the house, ladies...)The band stops playing promptly at 8:30 and they start kicking everybody else out. "You don't have to go home, but you have to get the hell out of here," the band told us last night. (Which was a PERFECT night to be outside among friends, by the way. Then again, I like a little humidity.)

Hope to see you out at Jazz in the Garden sometime!

--Megan